History

Rev. Otto J. Herrmann became pastor of St. Andrew Parish in 1947. Under his leadership the much-needed school, which had been the hope of the parish for nearly 30 years, was quickly built on a lot on 555 Main Street, immediately east of the church. The lot had been purchased many years earlier by Rev. Edward Creager who left $70,000 in St. Andrew's treasury for the school fund.

The two story brick and stone building had eight classrooms, a nursery, a Catholic information center, a kitchen and cafeteria. The architect of the building was George E. McDonald of Cincinnati. Lay Advisors of the parish building committee included Frank Brown, William Albers, Richard Holden, Raymond Hautz, A.G. Kipp and Frank Savage. The school was occupied by 1948, opening to 123 students on September 7th. Although the school had a $45,000 debt when it was opened, the resourceful pastor and generous parish contributors paid off the debt within three years.

 

Dedication of new
St. Andrew School

555 Main Street
Milford, Ohio

August, 1948
(l to r) Rev. Edward J. Creager, former Pastor of St. Andrew Parish; Archbishop Joseph Albers and assistant, and Rev. Otto J. Herrmann, Pastor of St. Andrew Parish.

 

The village population has increased by four. A new chapter has begun in the history of Milford.

This will be an anniversary to be remembered – Friday, August 20, 1948, the date of the Sisters' coming to St. Andrew. We should like to remember it as a century-old dream come true.

A contract was made with the Sisters of Charity of Mt. St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio to staff the school. Sister Angelica (Helen C. Berghoff) became the first principal. She also taught grades 7 and 8. The three Sisters of Charity who joined her in teaching the first year were Sister Daniel Marie Delaney, who taught grades 5 and 6; Sister Ann Therese McGrath who taught grades 3 and 4; and Sister Mary Clementine Kasselmann who taught grades 1 and 2.

Soon after the completion and opening of the new St. Andrew School, Father Herrmann began to search for land for a second school. In 1956, he found an available parcel of land on Buckwheat Road and purchased all 12.37 acres. Under his persistent direction, a 10 classroom school was completed and opened in September of 1959 and named "St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School" in honor of the "about to be canonized" patron saint of parochial schools and the founder of the Sisters of Charity.